Group H: Juventus, Manchester United, Valencia, Young Boys
Manchester United’s group also looks considerably more challenging than last season, with no respite for Jose Mourinho’s side after damaging defeats to Tottenham and Brighton over the last fortnight. Getting out of the group, however, is not an impossible task for the Red Devils, as United look to make it beyond the last sixteen of the Champions League for the first time since 2014.
United will have to contain a Juventus now lead by former United legend Cristiano Ronaldo, who served the Manchester club brilliantly for six years. Manchester United, therefore, know the threat the Portuguese winger carries better than anyone, as Ronaldo proved the difference between Real Madrid and United when he last played against his former club in a competitive fixture. Ronaldo’s winner in a 2-1 win against Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford sent Madrid through after the first leg finished 1-1, with the striker also scoring the equalizer in that particular game.
Juve, however, possesses a team full of gifted players and title-winners, with Massimiliano Allegri’s team winning the last seven editions of the Serie A. Allegri’s tactical awareness helped the Italian champions overcome Tottenham in the last sixteen, as he brought on substitutions at half-time and changed formation to force Spurs’ backward and overturn the tie.
Many in England associate Valencia with Gary Neville’s disastrous four-month spell, although the Spanish side has rebuilt and regrouped admirably since then, as they finished fourth in La Liga last season and only three points behind Real Madrid. Valencia boasts two dangerous in Rodrigo and Goncalo Guedes, who has the pace and end product to cause United trouble, with Ezequiel Garay and Dani Parejo providing the experience needed to keep a team composed and focused.
United have a two-time Champions League manager in charge, with several quality players including Paul Pogba, Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku who would walk into most European sides.
They will have to take a more pro-active approach and attack teams if they are to finish top of the group and make a deep run in the competition. English teams such as Liverpool and Tottenham have won big Champions League games pressing and rushing the opposition into mistakes, with Man United showing signs of this in their 3-0 defeat on Monday.